Sep 4 2013

Last summer Hurrah

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Karin

Family Photo at Harriman State Park

For the Labor day we went for a hike at Harriman State Park. This is the last fun thing we got to do before school started the next day. It was beautiful. My friend told me that I was pretty much guaranteed a moose sighting. Well she was wrong we didn’t see any moose. We did however see a lot of moose scat but no moose. We did enjoy the water fowl that we saw. There were a lot of geese, a few swans, a pelican and a couple of cranes. We did the golden lake loop which was a very easy hike. We hiked in total 4.5 miles. The only person who seemed tired of walking was the littlest. It’s the longest she has hiked without having to ride on daddy’s shoulders. It drizzled on us off and on throughout the day. It was never enough to soak us through but enough to keep us cool. This area is also one of our favorite spots to cross country ski. They groom the trails in the winter and it is so beautiful covered in snow.

The trail through the meadow

Stopping to look into a pond.

One of the winter warming huts.

Taking a break.

A Couple of swans.

Our destination Golden Lake

Sep 3 2013

School Days!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Karin

We survived the first day of school! This morning when I woke up at 6:30 am to get the kids ready for school we found that they were already awake and dressed. This is a monumental year. My youngest started kindergarten! I thought I might get teary eyed as I dropped her off at the school but actually I didn’t leave the school. Yep, I stayed to help the PTO pass out teacher gifts. I went home and only had about an hour before Sophia came home. I now have a kindergartner, a 3rd grader, and a 6th grader all going to the same elementary school. I have a feeling that this is going to be a busy school year.

Preston 6th grade 2013

Levi 3rd Grade 2013

Sophia Kindergarten 2013

So excited to go to school!

Sophia and her good friend waiting in line.

First bus ride. She loves the bus.

Jul 9 2013

Levi’s baptism

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Karin

Baptism day

What a wonderful weekend with friends and family. This was a very special day for our family. Levi turned 8 last week and was baptised this weekend Saturday July 6th. He said he was excited but a little nervous. Such a special little guy. We had both grandparents there. Grandma and Grandpa Tiffany and Nami and Nampa Edwards. He also had a few friends come and support him. After the baptism we went back to our house and had a bar-b-que. Corey had smoked a pork shoulder the day before and we had pulled pork sammies, hamburgers, and hot dogs. We had good food and were surrounded by great friends and family. Wow, I’m feeling really blessed. Thanks to everyone who took time to come and support Levi in his wonderful decision.

Levi and his dad in front of the font.

Levi and his family

Levi with Nami and Nampa

Preston also received a plaque that Grandpa Tiffany made for scouts. He went above and beyond and completed all 20 requirements to receive his arrow of light. To get the arrow of light you don’t have to complete all 20 but Grandpa has been making these special awards for around 30 years to boys that go above and beyond. Preston really loves his plaque and he’s very grateful for the work his grandpa put into it.

Levi with Grandma and Grandpa Tiffany

Preston getting his plaque from Grandpa

The arrow of Light plaque

Jul 9 2013

4th of July 2013

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Karin

Wow we have had quite some weekend! We start with the 4th. It was jammed packed with fun stuff. We woke up at 5:30 am and went with Corey to help road block for the 5K firecracker run here in Idaho Falls. The kids had fun watching the runners go by and seeing some fun costumes people had on. Then straight from the race we went to the parade. We didn’t get a nice shady spot this year so it got pretty hot. Luckily we were well covered in sunblock. Then it was off to Gem Lake to hang out with our friends and play in the sand. We stayed there for a good 4 hours. Unfortunately some of us did get sunburned after 4 hours. Mainly it’s because they forgot to reapply on their shoulders. Later we were lucky to have Nami and Nampa Edwards join us for the fireworks. The show was an hour late because a 27 year old kid decided he wanted to swim to the island in the middle of the Snake river and drowned. They had to search the river and postpone the fireworks for an hour. So sad, it kind of put a damper on the festivities. By the time we got home we were beat. Sophia fell asleep in the bike trailer before the fireworks even started so she missed the whole thing. I guess it will be a year we never forget.

waiting for the parade

Corey and Sophia walking on the sandbar

Preston and his little buddy Seth playing in the water.

She may look sweet and cute here but…

she covered herself in sand. It was everywhere.

waiting for the fireworks

Sophia and her good friend Candice. Her mom made cute outfits for them.

Jul 9 2013

Camping

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Karin

Our family loves to camp but unfortunately we haven’t had too many opportunities this year. Corey got a new job in May and he has been travelling a lot. He’ll leave Monday morning and not get back until Friday evening. This makes planning a camping trip difficult. We decided to let the kids have some fun and camp in the yard. The boys thought that camping in the backyard was awesome. Sophia tried to follow them out there with her pillow and blanket but, to her disappointment, we didn’t think she was old enough to stay out there. So we set up a tent in the living room for her. She lasted about 10 minutes before she ended up in her own bedroom on the floor. The living room was too scary for her. I’m sure that if the living room was too scary than the backyard would’ve been too much for her.

Boy’s in the backyard

Sleeping in the living room.

Jun 23 2013

A hiking we will go

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Karin

We have gone on a couple of hikes this season. We did Hell’s half acre again but this time we hiked a little further along the red line. Sophia walked about 2 miles but Corey had to carry her for a mile in between. It was a fun first hike.

What a cute group of people

Eating lunch

Family Photo

Corey Hiking with Sophia

Preston Shooting his new BB gun

Another hike that we went on was Palisades creek trail. It is actually a pretty easy hike just really long. In total we hiked about 5 miles (Sophia 4 miles). If you went about 1.5 miles more then we would have made it to the lake. The kids kept complaining all the way hiking in but on the way out they were just fine. On the way back we sang songs to take their minds off of hiking. I wish I had thought of that on the way in. Corey and I are hoping that we can make it to the lake next time. It was a very pretty hike.

The creek that goes along the trail.

Pretty wild flowers

Hiking the trail

More traill

More wild flowers

Corey’s sneeky bouquet. He put flowers in my backpack while I was hiking.

Mid point over look.

Jun 22 2013

Recitals

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Karin

I’m playing catch up again. So much has happened in the last month. Right before school ended we had to recitals to go to. We actually would have had three but Preston’s violin recital was the same night as his piano recital so he had to pick which one to participate in. Since he just had a performance in Orchestra a couple of months before he decided to participate in his piano recital. He did a very good job and loves playing the piano. This is his first year and he has picked it up pretty quickly. I have a recording of one of the songs he did with his dad for his recital but I can’t figure out how to download it. So maybe if I can figure it out I’ll share.

Preston’s Solo

Duet with dad.

All the students and there teacher Mrs. Smith.

Another recital we had was for Sophia. She has participated in the Let’s play music program. This program teaches the basics of music theory through songs and play. This is a program that gets the little kids a head start on playing the piano. It’s a three year program and Sophia just completed her first year. She had a lot of fun with this and she can’t wait to start again in the fall.

Teacher with all the students

Cute kids

Getting her certificate

Apr 23 2013

Birthday time for P.I.E

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Karin

11 years ago I became a mom for the first time. Such a scary but beautiful time in my life. I can’t believe that 11 years has past. I can tell you that I feel very blessed to have Preston in my life. So funny that when he was younger he hated it when people would call him other names. For example his grandpa T. would call him George (he does it to all the kids) and Preston would get so upset. Now he loves it when people call him PIE. Those happen to be his initials. Preston has always been so compassionate toward others. He has a wonderful spirit and I can always count on him to make good decisions. He is a great helper and always the first to tell me how much he appreciates the things I do. I love this guy and wouldn’t trade him for anything. Here is 11 years of photos from ages 0-11. Now everyone can see how much he has grown.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Apr 4 2013

Easter

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Karin

Right before church. Looking pretty all dressed up.

We had a great Easter Sunday last week. We did our traditional Easter egg dyeing on Saturday evening. After church on Sunday we had the kids look for eggs in the backyard. This has become a tradition of ours this is the 7th or 8th year that we have been doing this. We prefer doing the egg hunt in our back yard rather than fight the crowds of people at the public hunts. This year felt a little different than most. I think next year we aren’t going to focus so much on the Easter bunny but rather what Easter is all about our Saviour. I think we might have been missing that a little this year. Corey and I did enjoy singing with the choir at church and when I asked the kids at dinner what they thought Easter was they did tell me all they learned about Jesus Christ. So it wasn’t totally missed. Maybe it was just me but next time we are going to remember a little better.

Dyeing Easter eggs

Preston really getting into the hunt

Levi looking for his eggs

Eggs in a nest. (Corey made the nest for Sophia)

Aren’t they just so cute?

Mar 28 2013

Arrow of Light

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Karin

crossing over and his final goodbye to the pack.

Preston is moving on from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. We had our final pack meeting where he received his Arrow of Light. This is quite a feat for him. His Grandpa Tiffany challenged him a year ago that if he not only got his arrow of light but also achieved all 20 activity pins that he would make him a special arrow of light plaque. At first, I was pretty sceptical that Preston could pass off all 20 pins. After all this is normally a two year program that our church crams into one. One of the pins was aquanaut which to pass off you need to have quite a lot of swimming skill. We had trouble even getting him to float on his back. Last summer we spent 2 weeks at Grandma and Grandpa Tiffany’s and by the end Preston was diving down to the bottom of their 8 foot deep pool. When we came back from their house he went swimming with his scout troop and he was jumping off the 10 ft diving board. This would have been unheard of just a few weeks before. Once he passed off this activity pin I knew that he could do all 20. With a lot of hard work he did it. His Grandpa was pretty upset that he couldn’t present the plaque at the Arrow of Light Ceremony. It would be nice to live near them but grandpa will get to present it to Preston in July when they come to visit.

Receiving his arrow of light

getting his boy scout kerchief

proud family

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5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

In A Nutshell

Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together– Elder M. Russell Ballard

Category Archives: preston

Last summer Hurrah

School Days!

Levi’s baptism

4th of July 2013

Camping

A hiking we will go

Recitals

Birthday time for P.I.E

Easter

Arrow of Light